Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review: The Wide Window
Paul Dailly
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Well, that was quite the change of pace.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 5 and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 6 struggled with some serious pacing issues.
These were the first episodes that really made me think that novel could have been adapted over just one episode. Aunt Josephine was never my favorite character in the books, but Alfre Woodard turned in a solid performance.
My main issue with the character was her complaining about everything that could go wrong, but then she revealed she put gasoline in her watercraft. I mean, did she not realize she was scared to switch on a light just a few scenes earlier?
It's a good thing I remembered to put gas in my recreational watercraft.
Josephine
I completely understand that the line about the gasoline was thrown in purely for the comical value, but it was the first time that the jokes on the show got annoying.
We were promised that Aunt Josephine would be the ones to hold all of the answers for the children, but instead, she just kept us guessing for longer.
I know she was lonely, but what the heck was she playing at by bring Captain Sham back after speaking to him for a mere few moments?
Follow me, but mind the rug. You might slip and break your necks.
Josephine
If she was that scared of what could wrong in situations, getting flirty with anyone before learning about them was just so damn out of character.
What if he was an estate agent, or something? We all know just how much she despises them. Either way, another one of the Baudelaire guardians has bit the dust.
Neil Patrick Harris continued to prove that he was the right person for the role. Captain Sham was great, but I'm surprised he actually believed Josephine had killed herself.
The smashed part of the window was clearly the statue that was in the room earlier.
I have to give a shout to the special effects during the hurricane. It was visually stunning... like something you would expect from a big budget movie spectacular.
With Mother and Father flying over the children as they fought the leeches off, it seemed like there was a very real possibility of the parents finally meeting up with the children.
I mean, we're nearly finished with the season and they have still yet to cross paths. Yes, I know they are dead in the books, but this is one of those plots that should not be dragged out for very long.
With the kids finally realizing that Mr. Poe was useless as a sack of potatoes, I have hope that the season is going to end in a good place.
With all of the things Mr. Poe has gotten wrong, it's a miracle the children are still alive. Now, they're on their way to Lucky Smells Lumbermill.
Olaf: The banker's buying.
Mr. Poe: Oh, okay, then.
They seem to think they're in for a happy ending to their tale, but there's nothing happy about what goes on in this show. Haven't you been paying attention to our good friend Lemony Snicket, who has told us several times to just give up?
Kidding aside, the adaptation of "The Wide Window" definitely lacked the spark that made the first four episodes flourish. Thankfully, The Miserable Mill was not adapted to movie, so we're finally getting to some of the stuff we've only read about.
All things considered, a slower paced outing of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is still a cut above most of the other TV shows on the air right now.
Other tidbits from the episode:
- The leeches were scary creatures, but the kids should have just thrown Aunt Josephine into the water. They were really willing to die for her.
- How will Mr. Poe feel about the children running off? Will that be the thing that forces him to be a better person and actually take on board what these children have to say?
- I want to know who the heck the man who was working in the restaurant was talking to on the phone. That will prove integral to unraveling what is really going on.
- Cold Cucumber soup sounds like the worst soup, like, ever. Keep your soup to yourself, Aunt Josephine!
- The kids eating peppermint to get out of a situation proved the lengths they were willing to go to in order to get away from all of the villains.
What did you think of the latest episodes? Were you enthralled by "The Wide Window"?
Check back tomorrow for our review of the final two episodes!
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
